After conducting thorough research, we nominated the Philips Avent Soothie pacifier as our Top Pick for baby pacifiers. We liked that this particular option was the most popular pacifier that hospitals prefer to use. In addition to being our Best on a Budget selection, we liked the silicone one-piece construction that was BPA and latex-free and the fact that it’s ideal for babies from newborn to three months old.
To determine the best baby pacifiers, (which by the way are also considered popular health and wellness products), we looked at the following features: age range, materials, design, and how easily they could be cleaned. We know that you need a pacifier that’s the right size to fit your baby’s growing mouth. But you also need safe materials, with a design that doesn’t pose a choking risk and is easy to clean. Keep reading to learn more about the rest of our recommendations and our review criteria.
Top 7 Best Baby Pacifiers
#1 Philips Avent Soothie 0 – 3 Months Baby Pacifier
Award: TOP PICK
WHY WE LIKE IT: An affordable pacifier that’s BPA-free and latex-free, and is used in hospitals to soothe newborns.
Read Full Review: Philips Avent SCF190 01 Soothie 0 3mth
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- Best on a budget
- Most popular option endorsed by hospitals
- BPA-free and latex-free one-piece construction
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- Limited age range support for newborn to 3 months
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The Philips Avent Soothie pacifier is hands down one of the most popular options when it comes to pacifiers. We nominated the Soothie as our Top Pick because it’s not just the Best on a Budget, but is also the one most trusted by hospitals. We love that this option is designed for newborns up to three months.
The pacifier is made from BPA-free and latex-free silicone with a one-piece construction recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics that gives you peace of mind. As is common with reputable pacifier brands, this option is dishwasher safe in the top rack and can be used in a sterilizer as well. The design also adheres to orthodontic recommendations to promote the safe natural development of a baby’s teeth and gums. If you’re shopping for your baby, you may also want to consider reading our guide to the best humidifier for babies.
#2 Nuk Orthodontic Baby Pacifiers
Award: HONORABLE MENTION
WHY WE LIKE IT: A pacifier that helps to minimize nipple confusion and works for a wide age range, 0 to 6 months, makes this the best pacifier for breastfed babies.
Read Full Review: NUK Orthodontic Pacifiers 5 Pack
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- Reduces risk of nipple confusion in breastfed babies
- Best for babies newborn to 6 months
- Orthodontic nipple with flatter surface for improved sucking motion
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- Not all babies will take to these pacifiers
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Orthodontic pacifiers are so important as you don’t want a pacifier that causes dental issues once your baby begins to teethe. But if you’re breastfeeding, there’s also added anxiety about introducing pacifiers too early and causing nipple confusion. We picked this set of orthodontic pacifiers from Nuk as our Honorable mention because we think they’re the best pacifier for breastfed babies.
They’re made with a flatter surface that improves your baby’s sucking motion while also mimicking the natural shape of your nipple when your baby is breastfeeding. And the heart-shaped shield helps to safely fit under the baby’s nose to prevent any breathing obstructions. The shield ring also glows in the dark which is perfect for use around bedtime. Parents will appreciate that these are dishwasher-safe with silicone nipples. While Nuk makes two size ranges, this set is for newborns through six months of age. Speaking of your baby, take a look at our guide to the best baby wipes too.
#3 Evenflo Feeding Balance Plus Stage 1 Cylindrical Baby Pacifier
Award: EASIEST TO CLEAN
WHY WE LIKE IT: A one-piece design that minimizes choking but is also dishwasher safe and won’t cause nipple confusion for breastfed babies.
Read Full Review: Evenflo Feeding Balance Cylindrical Pacifier
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- Single-piece design reduces choking risk
- Ideal for newborns to 6 months of age
- BPA-free silicone design
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- May be too big for newborns
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There’s nothing worse than a pacifier that gets water in the nipple every time you clean or sterilize it. We like the one-piece design of this baby pacifier from Evenflo because you’re less likely to get water in the nipple which can lead to mold growth. But the one-piece design also reduces the risk of choking from pieces on the shield breaking off.
This set of pacifiers is designed for babies from newborn to six months. However, we did note in our research that the wider age range may make this a bit too big for some newborns. The Stage 1 pacifier works to help the baby maintain a natural tongue position while also mimicking the shape of your nipple to minimize nipple confusion. The simple silicone construction is easy for babies to grip as they gain motor skills and are dishwasher and sterilizer safe. You may want to also check out our guide to the best-infrared thermometer in case your baby gets sick.
#4 BIBS BPA-Free Natural Rubber Baby Pacifier
Award: BEST FOR SKIN-TO-SKIN
WHY WE LIKE IT: A great natural alternative that mimics the feel of skin-to-skin, that won’t cause nipple confusion proves this is the best natural pacifier.
Read Full Review: BPA Free Natural Rubber Pacifier
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- Ideal for self-soothing behaviors
- Natural rubber design that’s gentle to the touch
- Nipple also designed to mimic the breast
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- Not all babies will like rubber
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The Bibs Pacifier is the best natural pacifier on the market today.. While most people prefer silicone-based pacifiers, the Bibs pick is ideal if you’re concerned that harsh additives like BPA, parabens, PVC, or phthalates may be lurking in traditional silicone options. Specifically, we liked that this rubber pacifier was designed to feel like your skin, creating a seamless skin-to-skin transition from feeding top self-soothing.
As is common, these natural rubber pacifiers are dishwasher safe, with a nipple that’s also designed to resemble the shape of your breast to reduce nipple confusion. This option is ideal for babies from newborn to six months of age. Plus the shield is designed with holes to promote airflow and prevent the risk of skin irritation. For when your kid gets a little bit older, take a look at our guide to the best kids smartwatch for the ultimate gift.
#5 MAM Clear 0 – 6 Months Baby Pacifiers
Award: BEST DESIGN
WHY WE LIKE IT: Some babies struggle to keep their pacifiers in their mouths but the curved shield and symmetrical nipple make this the best pacifier for babies who spit them out.
Read Full Review: MAM Pacifiers Pacifier Breastfed Collection
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- Symmetrical nipple that adapts to the shape of the mouth
- A curved shield with textured surface to reduce skin irritation
- Ideal for babies from newborn to 6 months
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- Water can enter nipple while washing
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There’s nothing worse than a pacifier that can only be used in one direction. This is especially true if your baby is fussy, you give them a pacifier, and then they put it in the wrong way. We think the best pacifier for babies who spit them out are these MAM pacifiers. They have an orthodontic symmetrical design meaning that no matter which way you put them in the baby’s mouth, they can start sucking right away.
We liked that the nipple automatically adapts to the baby’s mouth so that there’s a reduced risk of dental issues as they get older. You’ll also appreciate that the shield features a curved design with a textured surface and air holes to reduce irritation. These pacifiers are another option where the nipple is designed to feel like skin and to mimic the shape of a real nipple for reduced nipple confusion. And best of all, this option is dishwasher and sterilizer safe. For your baby’s other needs, you might want to take a look at our guide to the best earwax removal kit.
#6 Ryan and Rose Cutie PAT Gray Pacifier
Award: BEST QUALITY
WHY WE LIKE IT: A high-quality two-in-one design that combines a pacifier and teether to help baby work through initial teething woes with no issue.
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- Can also double as a teether
- Made from medical grade silicone
- Top rack dishwasher-safe design
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- Attracts lint, making it an item that must be cleaned frequently
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Once you reach roughly four to six months of age, babies may start to cut their first teeth. While our Best Quality pick isn’t designed for babies with teeth, we do like that this Ryan and Rose pacifier is a one-piece design made from medical-grade silicone with a ring that can double as a teether to help baby soothe their sore gums for those first few teeth.
With 15 whimsical colors to choose from, there’s something for everyone here. When used as a teether, you can invert the nipple Cleanup is easy since the pacifier is rated as dishwasher safe. And again, this is another great option for breastfeeding babies since the nipple is designed to mimic mom.
#7 Dr. Brown’s HappyPaci 100% Silicone Baby Pacifier
Award: BEST FOR ALL AGES
WHY WE LIKE IT: An orthodontic approved pacifier with a rounded shield to prevent facial irritation that’s designed for babies from newborn and up.
Read Full Review: Dr Browns HappyPaci Silicone Pacifier
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- Safe one-piece BPA-free construction
- Curved shield design to prevent facial irritation
- Dishwasher-safe and sterilizer safe
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- Large age range compatibility can be too big for smaller newborns
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Dr. Browns is another one of those popular brands for babies that deserve the praise because they make products that just work. While they’re better known for their pacifiers that come with lovies, we do like this selection as well because of the wide age range compatibility and the one-piece design.
This silicone pacifier is BPA-free and safe to use in a sterilizer or the top rack of a dishwasher. If you’re concerned that a pacifier could encourage skin irritation, this option has a curved shield to minimize contact on the nose and cheeks and holes to promote airflow. Plus the large ring makes this perfect for placing on a pacifier clip or lovie.
How We Decided
For many parents pacifiers — whether you call them binkies or bobos — are an essential tool for helping to soothe a crying baby. To create our guide, we focused on the following — age range, materials, design, and how easily it could be cleaned.
Except for two of our recommendations, all of the other selections were designed for babies from newborn to six months of age. Of the exceptions, one was for newborns to three months and the other was for babies of all ages.
In our guide, the primary material was silicone for most of the pacifier nipples. However, we did feature one option with a natural rubber nipple. We also featured a few one-piece design options which are ideal if you’re concerned about water getting into the nipple which could encourage mold growth.
And finally, all of our picks were rated safe for dishwasher use. This is such an essential feature since especially in the beginning, you’ll be so busy tending to all of your baby’s other needs that the last thing you want is to have to hand wash their pacifiers.
Best Baby Pacifiers Buyer’s Guide
The Most Important Factors to Consider
- Baby’s Preference
It might sound obvious, but if you choose to use a pacifier with your baby, you may find that they have a preference. Even though pacifiers look like they’re all the same, they’re not. Some have flatter nipples or are more contoured. Likewise, others feature slightly longer nipples. In the early days, it’s a good idea to buy a few from different brands with different designs to see which one your baby prefers. - Age Range
Believe it or not, pacifiers are not one size fits all from newborn to toddler stage. Most brands will highlight the specified age range which usually is broken down into Newborn to three months, three to six months, and six months and older. - Materials
The most common options are silicone, latex, and rubber. However, most experts recommend that you opt for silicone over latex because some babies do have latex allergies. But you’ll also want to confirm that any other materials in the base (also known as the shield) are made from BPA-free plastic. - Number of Pieces
As a general rule, avoid pacifiers that are made from multiple pieces. The more parts on a pacifier, the higher the risk that a piece could fall off and pose a choking hazard. The shield should be at least 1.5 inches are larger to prevent the pacifier from becoming a choking hazard. - Self Closing
This sounds like a “nice to have” but considering that babies are notorious for dropping pacifiers, having one that comes with a built-in cover that automatically closes when it hits a surface is a lifesaver — especially if this happens when you’re out and not able to quickly clean the pacifier. - Loop or No Loop
This is another “nice to have” that is pretty important. If you prefer to use a pacifier clip, you’ll want a pacifier that comes with a loop at the base. This ensures that the pacifier can never fall further than the length of the clip ribbon. - Cleaning
In the beginning, you’re going to be so busy caring for your baby that the last thing you want is to add another to-do to your already too long childcare list. Pacifiers that can only be cleaned by hand can add to your mental load. Dishwasher-safe options are ideal because you can still sanitize them using hot water, but it removes the manual labor. But also keep in mind that even if you pick a pacifier that isn’t rated dishwasher-safe, it should be rated safe for submersion in boiling water or use in a microwave sterilizer.
